Digital tech key to helping State meet climate obligations – report

Innovative digital technologies could play a central role in helping Ireland meet its climate change obligations, a new report has found.

The study from Amárach Research, which was commissioned by Huawei Ireland, found using digital solutions in energy, manufacturing, agriculture, buildings and transportation could deliver between 9.9 and 13.1 MtCO2eq in emission reductions, delivering up to 40 per cent of the reduction the State is aiming for by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan 2021. That states Ireland must reach a target of net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and cut emissions by 51 per cent by 2030.

The figures relating to the impact of digital technologies on these targets have been calculated by using Digital Europe’s data for technology’s potential role in CO2 emission reductions.

Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important topic for businesses. According to the Amárach report, about half of senior decision-makers in the energy, agri-food and public sectors see climate change as a key business consideration, ahead of labour and skills shortages at 31 per cent. Among the main technologies companies said would play a central role in helping companies meet their sustainability goals were 5G, cloud and internet of things, with big data, machine learning, artificial intelligence and virtual reality also cited.